So you not gonna pursue other puzzles and content because of the amount of complaints received over the stones.
I can certainly understand your frustrations given the amount of time and effort put into it only to have what "appears" to be a large base of upset customers.
I say "appears" for a reason.

For every customer who bothers to complain, 26 other satisfied customers remain silent.

This stat comes from standard customer statistics and any RL business manager "should" know these and others.
I say this because for every customer you see complaining about the stones, there are 26 of us who pleased with it.

So instead of changing your plans for a minority of the players, continue with the way YOU wanted YOUR game to unfold. You say "misstep".. thats not a misstep Catherine, that was a business decision based on information at a certain late point in development. It happens and I believe most of us understand that.

I love the Meeroo's, I love the games and I certainly appreciate the efforts your company puts into all of it.
Just remember you'll never please everyone and certainly not all the time but your pleasing the vast majority of us who truly enjoy your creations, you just don't see it from those loud unhappy ones.. :-)

Keep up the great work, we'll still be here anxiously awaiting more of the story. :-)

MadMax Daniels

p.s. ok people, time for us "pleased" 26 to 1 to speak up and let our voices be heard above those 1's..